Introduction

Stormwater infiltration is now a core part of sustainable urban development strategies. From source control to de-impermeabilization, stormwater management practices continue to evolve in response to increasingly ambitious environmental objectives.

But one critical question remains: what happens to the pollutants carried by runoff water?

In urban, industrial, and logistics environments, stormwater runoff often contains hydrocarbons and PAHs generated by traffic, impermeable surfaces, and human activity. Historically, treatment relied either on the natural biodegradation capacity of the soil or on conventional systems such as oil/water separators. More recently, innovative solutions such as depolluting aquatextiles and geotextiles have emerged, combining infiltration with treatment at the source.

As the number of available solutions increases, however, project owners, consultants, and specifiers face a growing challenge: how can performance be compared objectively? Testing methods, protocols, pollutant loads, and operating conditions often vary significantly from one manufacturer to another, making direct comparison difficult. In this context, innovation itself can become a source of uncertainty.

This is precisely the role of ETV, Environmental Technology Verification: an independent process designed to verify the performance of innovative environmental technologies.

Part 1 | ETV: validating the performance of innovative environmental technologies

What is ETV?

Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) is a voluntary process governed by ISO 14034 that independently verifies the performance of an Innovative Environmental Technology (IET).

Whenever possible, the process relies on existing standardized testing methods. Where no applicable standard exists, dedicated testing protocols are developed, reviewed, and validated within the ETV framework.

Testing is conducted by EN ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, with results independently reviewed and verified by an accredited third-party verification body. At the end of the process, a Statement of Verification is issued, confirming the measured performance of the technology based on verified data.

This verification document is internationally recognized and can be used in both public and private procurement processes as objective evidence of environmental performance.

ETV addresses the lack of a common framework for evaluating innovative solutions

This challenge is common across many industries: a technology may demonstrate strong technical performance while still struggling to gain market acceptance. By nature, innovative technologies have limited operational history and fewer documented field references. Without independently verified performance data, consultants, specifiers, and project owners often struggle to assess risk objectively.

This challenge is particularly evident in stormwater treatment. Civil engineering and environmental professionals are faced with a growing range of solutions, including oil separators, depolluting aquatextiles, depolluting geotextiles, and urban drainage systems, without a common framework for comparing their performance objectively. Tested pollutants, concentrations, flow rates, and testing durations often vary considerably between manufacturers.

ETV helps address this challenge through validated testing protocols, accredited independent organizations, and transparent, verifiable results.

A voluntary, rigorous, and highly structured process

One of the defining characteristics of ETV is the rigor of its methodology and verification process. Entirely voluntary, it goes beyond the regulatory requirements typically applied to construction products.

Before testing begins, the candidate technology must first demonstrate that it qualifies as an Innovative Environmental Technology and that it provides meaningful environmental added value compared with conventional solutions. This eligibility assessment is a prerequisite for entering the ETV process.

Performance evaluations are then conducted either using existing testing standards or, where no suitable standard exists, using dedicated protocols specifically developed for the technology being assessed. These protocols are thoroughly reviewed, audited, and validated within the ETV framework before implementation by accredited laboratories.

This approach enables the rigorous evaluation of innovative solutions such as depolluting textiles, where established testing frameworks are still limited.

Part 2 | Why Solmax chose ETV for OSMORIA® Geoclean® Origin

A rare and differentiating approach

For Solmax, engaging OSMORIA Geoclean Origin in an ISO 14034 ETV process was not a regulatory requirement. It was a deliberate and demanding decision aimed at demonstrating that the environmental performance claims associated with the aquatextile are supported by reliable, independently verified data.

The aquatextile’s performance was evaluated through testing conducted by EN ISO 17025 accredited laboratories and independently verified by a third-party verification body. These tests quantified both water permeability and the aquatextile’s ability to promote the biodegradation of C10-C40 hydrocarbons under clearly defined testing conditions.

ETV remains relatively uncommon due to the complexity of the process, the level of technical scrutiny involved, and the requirement for genuinely differentiated environmental innovation. By undertaking this process, Solmax reinforces its commitment to technical transparency and verified performance.

Measured and verified performance

The ETV obtained for OSMORIA Geoclean Origin is based on a rigorous evaluation conducted in accordance with ISO 14034. Prior to testing, the solution underwent a mandatory eligibility assessment confirming both its status as an Innovative Environmental Technology and its environmental value, particularly in terms of pollution prevention and natural resource protection.

The ETV focuses on two key performance criteria for stormwater treatment applications.

First, normal-to-plane permeability was measured according to EN ISO 11058, achieving a value of 8 × 10⁻² m/s. This ensures efficient water flow while maintaining treatment functionality, a critical requirement for source infiltration systems.

Second, the biodegradation of C10-C40 hydrocarbons was quantified using a dedicated testing protocol developed specifically for the technology due to the absence of an existing standardized method. The results demonstrated a biodegradation capacity of 18.15 g of hydrocarbons per m² for an initial load of 157.23 g HC/m².

Part 3 | What ETV means for your projects

Consulting engineers: specify with verified data

Integrating an ISO 14034 ETV-verified solution into a stormwater management project allows consultants and engineers to support specification decisions with independently verified technical data. The Statement of Verification becomes a reliable technical reference for discussions with project owners and environmental authorities.

ETV provides:

• Objective support for specification decisions

• A credible technical reference within project documentation

• Added confidence for de-impermeabilization and integrated stormwater management projects

Project owners: choose with greater confidence

Industrial operators subject to strict stormwater management requirements cannot rely solely on brochures or technical datasheets when selecting a treatment solution. ETV provides independent confirmation that the technology performs as claimed.

For municipalities developing urban districts or business parks, including environmentally sensitive areas or groundwater protection zones, ETV offers additional reassurance that infiltration and stormwater treatment objectives are supported by verified performance data.

ETV:

• Reduces uncertainty associated with innovative technologies

• Provides independent proof aligned with the expectations of environmental and regulatory stakeholders

Contractors and design-build firms: reduce risk and strengthen your offer

Proposing an ETV-verified solution strengthens the credibility of a technical offer. Compared with unverified alternatives, ETV-verified technologies provide a clear differentiator and can support participation in more technically demanding projects.

On site, ETV:

• Does not change implementation responsibilities

• Reinforces confidence in the selected solution

• Supports technically justified alternative proposals

Conclusion | Choosing ETV means choosing verified performance

Hydrocarbon and PAH pollution in stormwater remains a major challenge for the civil engineering and construction sectors. While innovative treatment solutions continue to evolve, their evaluation requires objective and reliable benchmarks.

By voluntarily undertaking an ETV process for its aquatextiles, Solmax transforms environmental performance claims into independently verified proof. ETV supports more confident specification decisions, reduces uncertainty for project owners, and reinforces the credibility of the professionals who adopt these technologies.

To date, OSMORIA Geoclean Origin is the only depolluting textile benefiting from independent verification of its performance claims.